Electric-switch-operating means



Feb. 24, 1925. 1,527,750

J. sAcl-ls ELECTRIC SWITCHOPERATING MEANS Filed Feb. 26. 1923 2 Sheets-Shet l nu on ayu/7 M Feb. 24, 1925. 1,527,750

J, sAcHs ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING .MEANS Filed Feb. 26. 1'923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SACHS, `OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH-OPERATING MEANS.

Application led February 26, 1923. erial No. 621,258.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SACHS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State l of Connecticutfhave invented a new and useful Im rovement in Electric-Switch-Operating eans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the means provided for operating electric switches which are enclosed in boxes, and particularly those switches which are installed in connection with electric meters and which have means for lfacilitating the testing of the l meters.

The object of the invention is to provide a protected service equipment of this character having the switch operating means so constructed and arranged that it normally is in position to swing the switching connectors open and closed in the usual way, but can be, when the box is opened, instantly disengaged from any or all of the switching connectors in order that either of the switching connectors may be left open while the others are operatively connected with the handle, or all of the switching connectors may be left free to be manipulated independently, as necessary for meter testing purposes.

This object is attained by `slidably mounting-the bail or switch operating means in guides that are rotatably attached to the inside of the side walls of the enclosing box, and connecting s rings to the bail in such a manner that they normally retract and keep the cross bar ofthe bail in tensional engagement with the links that conneet the bail with the switching connectors,

but which permit the bail to be drawn out so that the cross bar may be free from any or all of the links attached to the switching connectors. The operating handle on the exterior of the box is rigidly fastened to one of the bail supporting guides and the switching blades and the terminals are provided with suitable means for lthe 'ready connection of the meter testing appliances.

For the purpose of explanation the invention is illustrated as arranged for andv in connection with a three-phase three-wire installation, it being of course understood that the invention is not limited to this particular service.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a plan of an apparatus which embodies the invention, arranged in connection*y with a meter. Fig. 2 shows a section of the switch block on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a section of the switch block on the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3 on Fig. 1, in this View the switching connector being closed and the operating bail being connected therewith. Fig. 4; is a view on the same section as Fig. 3 with the switching connector in open position and the 0perating bail disconnected therefrom, leaving the connector free to be independently manipulated by hand. Y Fig. 5 is a detailed section showing the connection of the handle on-` the exterior of the bord with one of the bail guides on the interiorv of the box.

The enclosing box 6 which is commonly made of sheet steel may be any size and shape depending upon' what it is to enclose. The upper end wall 7 of the box shown is fitted to the terminal chamber 8 of the meter 9. Fastened in the box is an insulating base 10 preferably porcelain. On the face of the base at one edge are binding terminals 11 for the attachment of service wires S and binding terminals 12 for the attachment of the outside load wires L. At the opposite edge the-base has binding terminals 13 for the attachment of the meter leads 14 and for the attachment of the load side neutral wire. In the particular block illustrated the bindincY terminals are connected with clips 15. Fivoted to the clips at one edge and adapted to be swung l into and out of engagement with the clips at the other edge are the switching connectors. The connectors may be plain unfused conducting blades 16, as illustrated at the sides of the block, or they may be mechanically joined but electrically insulated blades 17 provided with fuse receiving means 1S adapted to receive enclosed fuses of any common type. Lugs 19 of conducting material may be connect'ed with the blades or fuse receivin clips and with the terminals for the rea y application of the terminals of the meter testing instruments.

Fastened to the fused switching connec- 'tors of the block shown are links 20 of insulating material. These links have slots 21 adapted to receive the cross bar sectionside 'is rotatably held in place against the inside of the side wall of the enclosing box o by a pivot stud 26. On the other side the guide yoke is fastened to the bent end of the handle 27 which is mounted soas to turn in a perforation in the sidewall of the box.

On the bail legs between the arms of the yoke are spiral springs 28 arranged to thrust between one end of the yoke arms and pins 29 that are passed through the legs of the to draw the bail down and hold the cross bar with a tensional engagement in the notches of the insulating links attached to the blades. lVith the cross bar of the bail4 engaged with the links fastened to the' blades, when the handle is turned those blades are all swung together on their pivots and the conducting paths across the block are opened or. closed as the case may be. lfVhen it is desired to test the meter with which the appliance is connected they cross bar of thebail is pulled out against the thrust of the springs 'and disengaged from the notches of the insulating links. After and is drawn back .by the springs over the blades the connectors may be opened or closed independently of each other by hand, as is necessary to manipulate them for the purpose of carrying on the testing of the meter.- The insulating plates 23 on the unfused connectors ensure the closinof of these connectors and also prevent the liail from dropping down and making a lconnection across any of the live parts when disconnected from the other lconnectors.

With this construction a cheap Iform of lhail may be used and it can be readily engaged with or disengaged from the insulating links attached to the blades in common use. The guiding yokes aresimple to make and it is easy to assemble them with the bail and springs and mount these parts on the side walls of the box. The springs arranged as described are durable and they retain the bail in tensional-engagement with the insulatingr blade links so that the switching connectors will always operate with the turning of the handle but they allow the 60 ready disconnection of the bail from the links for testing or other purposes'.

The invention claimed is: l. The combination with an enclosing box containing a b'ase with terminals and switch- 05 ing connectors, of an operating means combail in such manner that the springs tend` the operating bail has been thus disengaged prising a bail` rotatable means supporting the bail, means yieldingly holding the bail in engagement with the switching connectors, and a handle for rotating the bail supporting means.

2. The combination with an enclosing box containing a base with terminals and switching connectors, of an operating means comprising a bail, rotatable means slidably supporting the bail, means yieldingly holding the bail in engagement with the switching connectors, and a handle for rotating the bail supporting means.

3. The combination with an enclosing box containing a base with terminals and switching connectors, of an operating means comprising yokes rotatably supported by the walls of the box, a bail connected with the yokes, springs arranged to yieldingly hold the bail in engagement with'the switching connectors, and a handle attached to one of the yokes for -rotating the same.

4. The combination with an enclosing box `containing a base with terminals and switchino' connectors, of an operating means comprising yokes rotatably supported by the walls of the box, a bail with its ends passing loosely through the yokes, springs arranged to yieldingly hold the bail in engagement with the switching connectors, and '95 a handle attached to one of the yokes.

5. The combination with a closure contalnmg a base with terminals and switching connectors, of an operating means comprising yokes rotatably supported by the walls 10U ofthe closure, a bail with its ends passing loosely through the yokes, springs arranged in the yokes on the bail ends and adapted to yieldingly hold the bail in engagement with the switching connectors, and a handle attached to one of the yokes. l

6. The combination with supporting means and base with terminals and switching connecters, of connector actuating means comprising a rotatable and slidable bail, 110 links ]o1n1ng,the vbail with the connectors', means for rotating the bail, and yielding means arranged to retract the bail and normally hold it in engagement with the links.

7. The combination with supporting 115 means having a base with terminals and switching connectors, of an operating means comprising a rotatably supported bail, means yieldlngly holding the bail in enga ement with the switching connectors, and a andle 120 for rotating the bail.

8. The combination with a service switch of an operating means comprising rotatably supported yokes, a bail with its ends passing loosely throuh the yokes, springs ar- 125 ranged in the yo es on the bail ends and adapted to yieldingly hold the bail in engagement with the switching means, and a handle attached to one of the yokes.

9. A service switch operating means com- 130 prising switching connectors a rotatable and slidable bail, means for rotating the bail, and yielding means arranged to retract the bail and hold k'it in contact with the switching 5 connectors.

10. The combination with an enclosln box containing a bas with terminals and switching connectors, of an operating means comprising a rotatabl supported bail, means yieldingly holding t e bail in engagement with the switching connectors, and a handle for rotating the bail.

JOSEPH SACHS. 

